Save the Little Fish

Freshwater fishes

The fish list

542 species, each with the water it needs, who it gets along with, and where it comes from. Find one, or browse by family, genus or river.

Calm water 52 fish

Dwarf gourami

Dwarf gourami ≈

Gouramis & bettas · Trichogaster

Lone male. Males fight. Keep one, or give each his own space.

Slow, plant-choked waters of India and Bangladesh

Dwarf gourami

Trichogaster lalius

Slow, plant-choked waters of India and Bangladesh · swamp or paddy

Temperature
24–28°C
pH
6–7.5
Adult size
2.8 in · 7 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Top and mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
1+
Typical price
$6–12

Lone male. Males fight. Keep one, or give each his own space.

Photo: Kennyannydenny, CC BY-SA 3.0

Firemouth cichlid

Firemouth cichlid ≈

Cichlids · ThorichthysLC

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Atlantic slope of S Mexico, Yucatán, Belize, Guatemala (Usumacinta)

Firemouth cichlid

Thorichthys meeki

Atlantic slope of S Mexico, Yucatán, Belize, Guatemala (Usumacinta) · river

Temperature
20–32°C
pH
6.5–8.5
Adult size
5 in · 12 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Bottom
Temperament
Territorial
Diet
Omnivore
Group
2+
Status in the wild
Least concern

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Photo: Konstantin Gerasimov, CC BY 4.0

Frontosa

Frontosa ≈

Cichlids · CyphotilapiaNT

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Northern Lake Tanganyika: deep rocky slopes 15-70 m, Cape Tembwe to Bulu Point

Frontosa

Cyphotilapia frontosa

Northern Lake Tanganyika: deep rocky slopes 15-70 m, Cape Tembwe to Bulu Point · lake

Temperature
23–27°C
pH
8–9
Adult size
10 in · 25.5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Diet
Carnivore
Group
5+
Status in the wild
Near threatened

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Hard water. Needs hard, alkaline water, like its rift lake.

Photo: Maha Dinesh, CC BY-SA 3.0

Guppy

Guppy ≈

Livebearers · PoeciliaStaple

Long fins. Fin nippers will pick on it.

Trinidad and northern Venezuela

Guppy

Poecilia reticulata

Trinidad and northern Venezuela · stream

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
7–8.5
Adult size
2 in · 5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Top and mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
3+
Typical price
$2–8
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Long fins. Fin nippers will pick on it.

Photo: Holger Krisp, CC BY 3.0

Harlequin rasbora

Harlequin rasbora ≈

Rasboras & danios · TrigonostigmaStaple

Peat swamp streams, Malay Peninsula and Sumatra

Harlequin rasbora

Trigonostigma heteromorpha

Peat swamp streams, Malay Peninsula and Sumatra · swamp or paddy

Temperature
22–28°C
pH
5–7.5
Adult size
1.8 in · 4.5 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
8+
Typical price
$3–5
Rarity
Pet-store staple

Photo: NasserHalaweh, CC BY-SA 4.0

Jack Dempsey

Jack Dempsey ≈

Cichlids · RocioLC

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Atlantic slope, S Mexico (Papaloapan) to Honduras (Ulúa)

Jack Dempsey

Rocio octofasciata

Atlantic slope, S Mexico (Papaloapan) to Honduras (Ulúa) · river

Temperature
20–30°C
pH
6.5–8
Adult size
8 in · 20 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Aggressive
Diet
Omnivore
Group
2+
Status in the wild
Least concern

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Photo: Bernard DUPONT, CC BY 4.0

Keyhole cichlid

Keyhole cichlid ≈

Cichlids · CleithracaraLC

Blackwater coastal creeks of the Guianas, Orinoco delta and Trinidad

Keyhole cichlid

Cleithracara maronii

Blackwater coastal creeks of the Guianas, Orinoco delta and Trinidad · blackwater stream

Temperature
21–28°C
pH
4–7.5
Adult size
4 in · 10 cm
Flow
Calm
Swims
Mid-water
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Group
2+
Status in the wild
Least concern

Photo: User:D.W., Public domain

Showing 32 of 52